The 6 was a very nice engine, I've had two E90 328is over the years and now we have an F30 with the new turbo 4. The N20 is more powerful and more fuel efficient but it has a little bit of turbo lag and it's quiet, plus it doesn't sound all that great when you can hear it. The N52, on the other hand, was responsive and had a very sweet growl plus it might have been the smoothest engine of all time.

I can definitely understand why someone would prefer either engine over the other, I'm not sure which one I like more to be honest. I think I favor the N20 just because of its surprisingly huge low end torque, the N52 below 4,000RPM feels downright slow in comparison.

Although, I have one question. Does anyone know what are the differences between 125i and 328i?
Do they have bigger Turbo’s or intakes, or is it just a different program which pulls more HP. Looking forward to an answer, cheers.

The 6 was a very nice engine, I've had two E90 328is over the years and now we have an F30 with the new turbo 4. The N20 is more powerful and more fuel efficient but it has a little bit of turbo lag and it's quiet, plus it doesn't sound all that great when you can hear it. The N52, on the other hand, was responsive and had a very sweet growl plus it might have been the smoothest engine of all time.

I can definitely understand why someone would prefer either engine over the other, I'm not sure which one I like more to be honest. I think I favor the N20 just because of its surprisingly huge low end torque, the N52 below 4,000RPM feels downright slow in comparison.

I've got a Z4 3.0si and I love the N52. I agree with what you had to say above.

I had a F30 on loaner when I had the Z4 serviced. Honestly, the N20 didn't feel right. It felt like it wasn't as responsive, didn't have as much power and the sound out of it was too tame. Definitely the F30 is for those who just want a BMW. For a car enthusiast, it might be a disappointment. I don't consider myself a BMW "expert". As someone new to the BMW world, the N20 is a disappointment.

I've got a Z4 3.0si and I love the N52. I agree with what you had to say above.

I had a F30 on loaner when I had the Z4 serviced. Honestly, the N20 didn't feel right. It felt like it wasn't as responsive, didn't have as much power and the sound out of it was too tame. Definitely the F30 is for those who just want a BMW. For a car enthusiast, it might be a disappointment. I don't consider myself a BMW "expert". As someone new to the BMW world, the N20 is a disappointment.

I had the opposite experience.

See my loaner was an auto, and that has a lot to do with it.

It was a new N52 E92 coupe.

The engine SOUNDED great. But it was all sound. It had a nice top end surge to it, but again, mostly noise compared to the actual acceleration.

My 6mt N20 though, there is NO friggin sound. That is the disappointment. But meanwhile there is a such a big torque advantage(I dyno'd mine already) that it surges on a wave of tq in almost every gear and from very low RPM.

I find it will be much easier to put some sound into this car(granted it wont sound like a straight 6, I get that by walking to the other garage) than it will be to get tq out of an N52 without FI.

The engine SOUNDED great. But it was all sound. It had a nice top end surge to it, but again, mostly noise compared to the actual acceleration.

My 6mt N20 though, there is NO friggin sound. That is the disappointment. But meanwhile there is a such a big torque advantage(I dyno'd mine already) that it surges on a wave of tq in almost every gear and from very low RPM.

I find it will be much easier to put some sound into this car(granted it wont sound like a straight 6, I get that by walking to the other garage) than it will be to get tq out of an N52 without FI.

There's a common denominator to our experiences. Auto. My loaner was auto as well. That coupled with no sound probably made the N20 feel like it had a lot less torque than the N52.

There's a common denominator to our experiences. Auto. My loaner was auto as well. That coupled with no sound probably made the N20 feel like it had a lot less torque than the N52.

Maybe you're just used to the responsiveness of an N/A motor? I came out of a 135i and now drive a 335is and I still think my brother's 328i (N20) feels plenty powerful, 260lb/ft from just off idle is quite a lot out of a 2 liter but you definitely do sit around waiting for the turbo to spool.

By contrast, I go to our other garage and get into the 2011 328i (N52) and am bored to death by how slow it is in the midrange (but god does it growl when you put your foot down).

Maybe you're just used to the responsiveness of an N/A motor? I came out of a 135i and now drive a 335is and I still think my brother's 328i (N20) feels plenty powerful, 260lb/ft from just off idle is quite a lot out of a 2 liter but you definitely do sit around waiting for the turbo to spool.

By contrast, I go to our other garage and get into the 2011 328i (N52) and am bored to death by how slow it is in the midrange (but god does it growl when you put your foot down).

I am already making 260lbs of tq to the wheels with my N20 on a load bearing dyno

Maybe you're just used to the responsiveness of an N/A motor? I came out of a 135i and now drive a 335is and I still think my brother's 328i (N20) feels plenty powerful, 260lb/ft from just off idle is quite a lot out of a 2 liter but you definitely do sit around waiting for the turbo to spool.

By contrast, I go to our other garage and get into the 2011 328i (N52) and am bored to death by how slow it is in the midrange (but god does it growl when you put your foot down).

Get the AA tune for the 328i, you will change your mind quickly about the midrange

Get the AA tune for the 328i, you will change your mind quickly about the midrange

I think you two misread my post, I'm saying the N20 has an awesomely powerful midrange. The N52 was the one that I said felt a little flat in the midrange in comparison to the new turbo motor.

Unless you're saying AA makes a tune for the straight six N52 that drastically improves the midrange? Our E90 328i is just the family beater so I'm not going to bother modding it, it's a fantastic car I just prefer the new motor's power.

I think you two misread my post, I'm saying the N20 has an awesomely powerful midrange. The N52 was the one that I said felt a little flat in the midrange in comparison to the new turbo motor.

Unless you're saying AA makes a tune for the straight six N52 that drastically improves the midrange? Our E90 328i is just the family beater so I'm not going to bother modding it, it's a fantastic car I just prefer the new motor's power.

Exactly what I'm saying, I have the AA tune on my N52 128i, and it is a huge improvement over stock, especially in the mid range.